Please answer: New findings, "OESTROGEN CREAM TO HELP REDUCE HIV INFECTION IN MEN"

Jun 11, 2008

Is this for real? My gf = +. And I would like to f**k her without a condom. What do you think? Please reply Dr. BOB. You know that this is a new topic, and needs to be discussed further. Topical Oestrogen Keratinises The Human Foreskin and May Help Prevent HIV Infection. (ARTICLE) -> With the growing incidence of HIV, there is a desperate need to develop simple, cheap and effective new ways of preventing HIV infection. Male circumcision reduces the risk of infection by about 60%, probably because of the removal of the Langerhans cells which are abundant in the inner foreskin and are the primary route by which HIV enters the penis. Langerhans cells form a vital part of the body's natural defence against HIV and only cause infection when they are exposed to high levels of HIV virions. Rather than removing this natural defence mechanism by circumcision, it may be better to enhance it by thickening the layer of keratin overlying the Langerhans cells, thereby reducing the viral load to which they are exposed. We have investigated the ability of topically administered oestrogen to induce keratinization of the epithelium of the inner foreskin. Histochemically, the whole of the foreskin is richly supplied with oestrogen receptors. The epithelium of the inner foreskin, like the vagina, responds within 24 hours to the topical administration of oestriol by keratinization, and the response persists for at least 5 days after the cessation of the treatment. Oestriol, a cheap, readily available natural oestrogen metabolite, rapidly keratinizes the inner foreskin, the site of HIV entry into the penis. This thickening of the overlying protective layer of keratin should reduce the exposure of the underlying Langerhans cells to HIV virions. This simple treatment could become an adjunct or alternative to surgical circumcision for reducing the incidence of HIV infection in men.
Thanks Kind Doctor. God bless u.

Response from Dr. Frascino

Hi,

Is this for real? Well, the research is being done, but so far only in monkeys on a human foreskin that was removed during circumcision. It's way, way, way too early to assume it works in the real world. If additional carefully controlled experiments pan out, larger clinical trials will then be set up. The bottom line is that this potential harm-reduction intervention is certainly not yet ready for prime time! I'll print some information below about what is known so far, OK? Stay tuned to The Body. We'll keep you informed on this and all other therapies as they evolve.

A topical gel containing the female hormone oestrogen appears to block HIV's infection of key cells in the foreskin, according to an article published in the online journal PLoS One. The investigators believe that the hormone, which is readily available in a cream, is a "simple, cheap, readily available natural hormone [that] could create a living barrier to HIV that preserves the natural defences of the inner foreskin."

In 2006, there were an estimated 4 million new HIV infections around the world bringing the total number of cases of HIV to 40 million. In the absence of a vaccine, investigators are attempting to find new methods of preventing HIV infection. There has recently been some excitement about the protective effects of male circumcision, with three studies involving African heterosexual men showing that it reduced their risk of infection with HIV by 50 - 60%.

Circumcision is thought to help prevent infection with HIV because Langerhans cells, which are vulnerable to infection with HIV, are present in large numbers in the foreskin. But Langerhans cells are also part of the body's natural defence against HIV and only become vulnerable to infection with HIV when exposed to large quantities of HIV virions.

Investigators at the University of Melbourne hypothesised that rather than removing this natural defence mechanism through circumcision, it might be better to enhance it by thickening the layer of protective keratin over the Langerhans cells, meaning that they are exposed to less HIV.

Laboratory studies have shown that the application of oestriol a synthetic form of oestrogen - to the vaginas of rhesus monkeys reduces their risk of infection with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a virus closely related to HIV. The investigators found that the increased levels of keratin in vaginal tissue protected the rhesus monkeys from infection with the virus.

The Australian investigators therefore conducted studies to see if oestriol cream helped protect the cells in the foreskin from infection with HIV.

First, their study involved the use of foreskins removed during surgical circumcision from six men aged between 30 and 65. Their analysis showed that cells in the inner foreskin responded to topical oestrogen administration.

They then examined the ability of oestriol cream to cause keratinisation of the inner foreskin in men. Therefore, topical oestrogen in a cream containing 500 micrograms of oestriol was applied daily to the inner foreskins of two men. Within 24 hours this treatment produced a significant increase in levels of protective keratin over foreskin cells. This protective effect lasted for five days after treatment was stopped.

"Our findings demonstrate that topical oestrogen can induce rapid keratinisation of the inner foreskin. Further studies are now needed to determine if this can protect Langerhans cells from contact with HIV virions", write the investigators.

They note that topical oestriol cream has such low concentrations of oestrogen that it is safe and will not cause systemic side-effects, such as male breast enlargement.

The investigators suggest that circumcised men are still vulnerable to infection with HIV because the foreskin is not completely removed and cells in the residue remain vulnerable to infection. Application of an oestrogen cream could, they suggest, provide a protective layer of keratin over these cells.

Furthermore, there are significant obstacles to circumcision and an oestrogen gel could provide a safe and acceptable alternative where circumcision is either unacceptable or not practical.

"Oestrogen treatment could be an invaluable adjunct or alternative to surgical circumcision for reducing the incidence of HIV infection in men", conclude the investigators.

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